Is “Asher” a good name to keep for a baby boy? I also want the meanings of the following names:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu `alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
As Muslims, we are advised to assume good names for our children, since the name of a person has an effect on his traits and characteristics.
Nabi salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said regarding the assumption of good names: “indeed you shall be called on the day of Qiyaamah with your names and the names of your fathers, so give good names to yourselves”.[1]
Hereunder follows our response regarding the names that you have enquired about:
1. The name Asher means: companion, associate, comrade, friend.[2]
It is a good name to keep.
2. The name Ashir has two meanings:
1. Tax collector.[3]
2. someone/something who/which is tenth in order.[4]
3. Hashir means: one who assembles/gathers the masses. This is one of the names of Nabi salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam.[5]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Ismail Desai
Student, Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net